Archive for the 'Carolina Liar' Tag Under 'Soundcheck' Category

October 27th, 2011, 11:50 am by GEORGE A. PAUL, FOR THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Although David Cook was the first rocker to win the seventh season of American Idol in 2008, few people realize how aggressive the Missouri-raised singer/guitarist's music actually can be until they see him live. That power was clearly evident during a rousing 70-minute set Wednesday night at the Fox Theater in Pomona. Gavin DeGraw was the de facto headliner, but Cook stole the show.

Following his Idol win, Cook's self-titled, major-label bow sold more than a million copies, as did two singles. A few others went Top 20 at various radio formats (though not alternative or active rock, the two genres to which he hews closest). Solid sophomore release This Loud Morning, produced by Matt Serletic (who has worked with Matchbox Twenty and Santana, among others), ups the grungy pop quotient with lyrics revolving around a life/sleep cycle.

Those who followed Cook's personal journey on Idol will be interested in recent news about his participation in the Honda LA Marathon next March, to raise funds for Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure (ABC2). The charity hits close to home for the performer, since his brother Adam died from a brain tumor. (Click here for info.)

At the Fox, Cook opened with the hard-driving “Circadian,” the first of eight selections from Morning. Gritty vocals and a Foo Fighters-style sonic assault (there were three electric guitarists, including the frontman) made “Kiss on the Neck” an early standout; surprisingly, it included a few lines of the Eagles' “Hotel California.”

Plenty of older women and their husbands, plus a few so-called “Cook Cougars,” were in attendance at the less-than-full venue. “Heroes” was bolstered by throttling guitars and the thrashing rhythms of drummer/backing vocalist Kyle Peek, and the song segued into Oasis' “Champagne Supernova.” Later, the uplifting sentiment of “We Believe” found the singer in total wail mode, while “Come Back to Me” was full-on drama.

Buzz is building about Arctic Monkeys' new album, Humbug -- as much because Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age co-produced it (with faithful Monkey man James Ford) as for how strong the band may sound on its third outing.

Though it doesn't obliterate what sets the Monkeys apart from their fellow Englishmen, you certainly can hear Homme's heavy-bashing approach to guitar and production all over the first single "Crying Anything," presumably what the band will perform when it appears Aug. 4 at Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.

The full-length disc drops Aug. 25, and the quartet is laudably keeping at something so few English bands this decade can even attempt anymore -- touring America. They arrive in Southern California on Sept. 14, first to play that night at Soma in San Diego, then they return to the Hollywood Palladium on Sept. 15. Both shows go on sale Saturday, July 18, at 10 a.m., the latter date exclusively through LiveNation.com.